Smart partnership brings missing Link to watch world

Any watch could get a lot smarter if a partnership between a Canadian tech firm and French luxury goods company gets its way.

Wearatec has partnered with Manufacture Jean Rousseau to bring its Link to market. The clasp is designed to offer smart, connected functionality on the strap of any traditional analogue watch.

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The development will be officially launched at the EPHJ Geneva micro-mechanical trade show tomorrow.

Link has been developed by Wearatec founder Dilshan Madaragamge and a team of engineers to feature a curved display. Famed French leather goods brand Manufacture Jean Rousseau has joined the partnership to make the leather straps.

Wearatec state that the Link smart clasp will offer fitness and health tracking, contactless payment via a digital wallet, notifications, remote control using Bluetooth and NFC, push alerts and built-in microphone.

Link is described as being in the final stage of development and is available for pre-order on the Canadian firm’s website, advertised with a launch date of Q1 2017.

It is understood that Manufacture Jean Rousseau team will promote Link and Wearatec technology to its ‘OEM Swiss watch partners and major Swiss luxury watch brands’. It will also be available at Jean Rousseau boutiques and retail network.